The Card was owned by a group of credit card companies (hey I probably built a bunch of this boat with my trips to the marine supply stores). Two Swedes (Roger Nilson and Magnus Olson) took over when the unfinished boat was sold.

The boat was designed by Bruce Farr. It could accommodate ketch or sloop configurations and was made to be converted to use as a cruiser after the Whitbread.

Having crossed the Atlantic three times prior to the race, The Card underwent a refit and keel change. It seems air voids were discovered in the keel. After changing the keel stability improved and the craft was able to carry more sail.

Whitbread 5 was a tough race. If you recall after the first leg (Southampton to Punta del Este) one crew member from the Russian entry Fasizi committed suicide and at that same stop The Card crewmember Janne Gustavson was killed in a motorbike accident. At the start of leg 4 (Auckland back to Punta del Este) The Card lost her mizzen when she collided with one of the watching spectator boats. She finished the leg as a Sloop!! In another leg of the race another The Card crew member broke an arm when a huge wave swept the deck.

When all was finished the Swedish maxi The Card finished the race 5th in 135 days, 7 hours, 15 minutes and 43 seconds.